The revised per capita household income benchmark of S$800 and below will also apply to other ComCare schemes from Jul 17, said MSF.
These schemes are ComCare Interim Assistance, for those who require urgent and temporary financial relief, and ComCare Long-Term Assistance, which provides aid over a longer period of time to people who are permanently unable to work due to old age, illness or disability, and have little or no family support.
Elderly people whose children have per capita household income of S$800 and below may be eligible for ComCare Long-Term Assistance, said MSF.
REVISION OF COMCARE INCOME BENCHMARKS
The ComCare income benchmarks were last revised in 2014. The monthly household income benchmark was raised from $1,700 and below to S$1,900 and below, while the monthly per capita household income benchmark was raised from S$550 and below to S$650 and below.
MSF reviews ComCare income benchmarks every two to three years, taking into consideration official data on expenditure for basic living needs, projected inflation and views from social service professionals who work with lower-income households.
According to MSF’s latest ComCare annual report, about S$177 million was disbursed under ComCare programmes in the financial year of 2021. Around 34,000 households received ComCare SMTA, while 4,000 households received ComCare Long-Term Assistance in 2021.